ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme acquired by TRL

TRL – the Transport Research Laboratory – has acquired the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme, which offers guidance on fleet decarbonisation.

Originally conceived by the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, ECO Stars provides emissions assessments and recommendations for fleet operators to reduce fuel consumption and lower their emissions in day-to-day operations.

The scheme is free to fleets and the sponsoring local authority and, depending on their location, costs are recovered from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, as well as Defra.

TRL has managed the scheme since its inception in 2009 and it has doubled in size in the past five years.

“With the acquisition of ECO Stars, TRL now has the opportunity to develop the scheme by offering new services that will benefit the members even further,” said Matt Sercombe, strategic business service director at TRL.

“The essence of the scheme aligns seamlessly with TRL's mission to deliver safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation solutions.”

He added: “The UK’s net-zero and sustainability goals are very real for vehicle fleet operators, who are under increasing pressure to demonstrate progress, even for very small fleets.

“We have in mind a set to enable fleet sustainability solutions that assures profitability and commercial advantage for fleets that invest in minor operational changes.” 

TRL's vision for the scheme, which relaunches today (Monday, May 20), is to expand its remit with a package of services based on net-zero emissions targets and take into account a broader range of sustainability objectives.

Applying lessons learned from its research into alternative transport and mobility modes, TRL also intends to extend the application of the recognition scheme to include fleets of micro-mobility solutions such as electric cargo bikes, electric scooters, and autonomous delivery pods.

The essence of the scheme has always been on tailoring the membership according to local or regional needs. This will remain, it said.

However, TRL added that it would be using its expertise and resources to work differently with local authorities. For instance, TRL can analyse their local air quality and traffic data to advise on a more holistic approach to traffic management, providing insights and recommendations on routes, scheduling, and congestion management strategies at hot spots, which will also improve operational efficiency for the local fleet operators. 

Ann Connolly, Scottish Framework manager, said: “The value of the ECO Stars scheme is incontrovertible and the transition of ownership heralds an exciting new phase.

“TRL has a very collaborative working style, and I am very much looking forward to working with them to develop and launch new ECO Stars services.” 

Established in 1933 as the UK government’s Road Research Laboratory, the renamed TRL was privatised in 1996.